Pakistan witnessed a continued improvement in its internal security landscape in April 2026, marking the second consecutive month of declining militant activity and reduced casualties, according to a new report released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
The Islamabad-based think tank documented 85 verified militant attacks in April, representing a significant decline from 146 attacks recorded in March a reduction of 42 percent. The report also noted a corresponding drop in fatalities resulting from militant activity, which fell from 106 in March to 60 in April.
According to PICSS, the overall reduction in violence reflects a broader downward trend that began in the previous month, when total combat-related deaths also declined by 35 percent.
The report attributes the improved indicators in part to intensified security operations conducted in the preceding months, including Pakistan’s cross-border military campaign targeting militant groups and Taliban-linked positions between February 26 and March 18. That campaign concluded with a temporary suspension and subsequent diplomatic engagement in Urumqi, China.
Pakistan had launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq on February 26 following what officials described as unprovoked cross-border firing by the Afghan Taliban.
PICSS data indicates that total combat-related deaths in April stood at 291, including fatalities from militant attacks and security forces’ operations. Militants accounted for 224 deaths, representing 77 percent of the total. Additional casualties included 28 security personnel, 37 civilians, and two members of pro-government peace committees.
The report highlights a notable decline in security forces’ casualties, which dropped from 59 in March to 28 in April a reduction of 53 percent. Civilian fatalities remained relatively stable at 37, compared to 39 in the previous month.
Injuries also declined significantly, falling from 210 in March to 131 in April. Civilian injuries dropped from 98 to 54, while militant injuries decreased from 57 to 31. Injuries among security personnel saw a slight reduction from 48 to 46, with no reported injuries among peace committee members.
The report states that most of the 85 recorded attacks were low-intensity incidents, with a few exceptions, including two suicide attacks in Bannu district and a high-profile assault on a mining facility in Chagai district, Balochistan.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained the most affected province, followed by Balochistan. However, both regions recorded notable improvements.
In mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, attacks declined from 51 in March to 45 in April, while fatalities remained unchanged at 34. A more significant improvement was observed in the tribal districts, where attacks fell by 40 percent, from 35 to 21, and deaths dropped by 82 percent to six.
Security forces simultaneously intensified counterterrorism operations in the region, killing 120 militants in April compared to 24 in March accounting for more than half of nationwide militant fatalities.
In Balochistan, attacks fell sharply from 59 in March to 18 in April, a reduction of 69 percent. These incidents resulted in 17 deaths, including 10 linked to the Chagai mining facility attack. Security forces killed 66 militants in the province during April.
Elsewhere, a separate incident in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Chilas district resulted in the deaths of three police personnel. No militant attacks were reported in Punjab, Sindh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, or Islamabad during April. However, intelligence-based operations in these regions led to the arrest of eight suspects.
From January to April 2026, PICSS recorded 401 militant attacks across Pakistan. These incidents resulted in the deaths of 190 civilians, 158 security personnel, and seven members of pro-government peace committees.
During the same period, injuries included 469 civilians, 167 security personnel, and seven peace committee members. Security forces, meanwhile, killed 988 militants and arrested 121 suspects nationwide.
Security analysts cited in the report suggest that while the downward trend in militant activity is notable, sustained operational pressure and continued intelligence-led efforts will be critical to maintaining stability in volatile regions.
The report concludes that Pakistan’s security environment showed measurable improvement in April, though it underscores the importance of continued vigilance amid persistent threats.
